March 13, 2000 – The body mass index (BMI), the ratio of height to weight, is an indicator of the risk of developing asthma.
After analyzing data from a questionnaire completed by 12,000 men between 1988 and 1994, researcher Kathryn Held of the University of Oklahoma divided the group into four quartiles based on body mass index. The researcher was able to show a very strong correlation between BMI and the prevalence of asthma. From the smallest BMI to the largest, the four groups had an asthma prevalence percentage ranging from 5.30 to 8.09, 8.93 and 17.31%.
According to Held, “Inactivity can be a big risk factor for asthma and there can also be hormonal differences that affect the lungs of obese people.” Regardless, the researchers conclude that the body mass index is a strong indicator of the risk of suffering from asthma, especially for people who do not have a hereditary predisposition towards this disease.
HealthPassport.net
From IntelliHealth Health News, March 6, 2000
